Voting apparatus



H'. J. SPROAT.

VOTING APPARATUS.

Patented June 27, 1922.

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.i Ami H. 1. SPROAT.

VOTINGv APPARATUS.

APPLCAHON FILED MAY l, 1917- 1,420,879. Patented June 27, 1922.

H. J. SPROAT.

VOTING APPARATUS.

APPLxcATloN FILED MAY1.1917.

1 ,420 ,87 9 Patented June 27, 1922'.

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' VOTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I, I9I1.

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H. 1. SPR0AT.

lvoIlNG APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I, I9I7.

Patented June 27, 1922.

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UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicr..

HARRY J'. SPROAT, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-FOURTH TO ARCHER A. LANDON AND ONE-FOURTH TO HENRY J. RENTE, BOTH OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

VOTING APPARATUS.

i Application filed May 1,

' Michigan, have invented cert-ain new and useful Improvements in Voting Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and

l exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in signaling orindicating apparatus, and the same has for its object more particularly to provide an apparatus for signaling to and indicating at a central point or receiving station a plurality of signals or messages transmitted fi'oin a plurality of individual ap-paratus located at several predetermined individual places or sending stations.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified by means of which the signal or message transmitted from the individual place or sending station may be temporarily or permanently indicated at the central point or receiving station.

Further, said invention has for its object to pro-vide an apparatus of the character specified by means of which the signal or message transmitted from the individual pla-ce or sending station may simultaneously be temporarily or permanently indicated at the central point or receiving station.

Further, said invention has forpits object` to provide an apparatus of the character specified by means of which the sense, or the presence or absence of a number ofindividuals meet-ing as a collective body may be indicated or recorded at a central or receiving station. i

Further, said invention has for its object.

to provide an apparatus of the character specified by means of which the number of individuals present as well as the number of lindividuals absent may be ascertained and indicated at the central point or receiving station.

Further, said invention has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character specified by means of which tlie total number of each of several classes ofsignals or messages may be counted as Well as the total number of signals or messages of all classes.

Further, said inventio-n has for its object to provide an apparatus of the character Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 27 1922 1917. Seriall No. 165,651.

specied by means of which the messages or signals transmitted to the central-point or receiving station maybe simultaneously, or practically simultaneously, recorded and counted.

Other objects will in part be obvious and in p-art be pointed out hereinafter.` y

To the attainment of the aforesaid objects and ends my invention consists in the novel details of construction, and in the combination, connection and arrangement of parts liereinaftenmorefully described and then pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment of the invention- Figure 1 is a. plan or top view showing the recording and counting mechanism of an apparatus constructed laccording to and embodying my said invention, the saine being shown in connection with a voting apparatus for use in legislative bodies, assemblages of individuals, and the like;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanisin shown in Fig. 1parts being broken away;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the aforesaid mechanism, parts being broken away;

AF ig. 4 is a detail rear view of the traveling carriage forming partI of said recording and counting mechanism; i

Fig. 5 is a detail front or face view of the printing members of the recording mechamsm;

Fig. 6 is a schematic view of the printing members;

Fig. 7 is a detail side view of the ribbon feeding mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a detail face View showing a por- 'tion of a printed record produced by the apparatus;

Fig. 9 is a plan or top view of the circuitclosing vmechanism located at the 'senders station or desk;

Fig. 10 is a vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the saine;

Fig. 11 is a detail face view showing a portion of the roster board;

Fig. 12 is a general diagram showing the location and arrangement of the various parts of a complete apparatus, and a Fig. 13 is a dia am showing the circuit connections .for t e entire apparatus, the

illustration there are shown but two voters7 desks it will, of course, be understood that there are as many desks as there are voters. Supported upon the voters desks 30A, 30 are switches 314, 3l` of which the construction of switch 31A will be described, it being understood that the construction of switch 3la is similar in all respects thereto.

The switch 31A comprises a casing 32 carrying a Yale lock 33 to the barrel 34 of which is secured an arm 35 extending outwardly beyond the top plate of the casing 32 and carrying upon its outer end a handle 36. Secured to the arm 35, and insulated therefrom by a block 37 of insulating material, is a Contact member A adapted to contact with any one of a plurality of ixed contact members A', A3, A3, A4 and A5 ldepending upon the position of the arm 35. The Contact members A, A3, A3, A4 and A5 are mounted upon a block 38 of insulating material secured to the casing 32. Upon the top plate of the casing 32 is a plate 39 bearing the words Yes, Present, Absent, Pairerh No, which words are so positioned upon the plate 39 that they will correspond with the positionsof the contact members A', A3, A3, A4 and A5, respectively. The number of xed contacts and-the wording on the plate 39 may, of course, be varied to meet different requirements without in any way departing from the spirit of the invention... 4

When the barrel. 34 is in its normal or locked position the contact member A carried by the arm 35 will be in contact with the fixed contact member A3 corresponding to the word Absent on the plate 39. Upon inserting a key 4() in the lock 33 the barrel 34 will be free to rotate whereupon the voter may move the arm 35S-to cause the contact member A to engage any one of the remaining contacts members A', A2, A4, or Ar as desired. As the keys` for the several locks are carried by the voters -it is evident that unless a voter is present the switch upon his desk cannot be operated, and therefore if a voteris absent the movable contact member of his switch will remain in engagement with that one of the fixed contact members thereof which corresponds to the Absent7 position of his switch.

41 indicates a recording oficers desk upon which are mounted a plurality of recording devices arranged in a row and corresponding in number to the number of voters desks.

In the drawing but Atwo recording devices' and of these two devices the construction of the device 42A will be described, it being understood that the construction of the device 42u is similar thereto.

The recording device 42A comprises a frame 43 secured to the desk 4l and carrying five Yhorizontally disposed electro-magnets G', G3, G3, G4 and G5 electrically connected respectively to the five fixed contact members A', A2, A3, A4, A5 of the voters switch 314. The electro-magnets G', G3, G3," G4 and G3 are arranged one above the other and each one has a movable core or armature 44 at one of its ends adapted to be drawn inwardly with respect to its associated electro-magnet upon the energization thereof. Secured to the inner end of each of the armatures 44 is a rod 45 projecting beyond the opposite end of its associated electro-magnet and having secured thereto adjacent its outer end a block .46. The electro-magnets are enclosed in a removable casing 43 secured to the frame 43.

Five printing members 47 472, 473, 474, y

which 'the free ends of the rods 45 pass. Ad

jacent their upper ends the printing members are provided with printing surfaces bearing words vcorresponding to the words on the plate 39 of the switch 314. The printing surface of the printing member 47', which is operatively connected to the rod 45 secured to the armature 44 of the electro'- magnet G electrically connected to' the fixed contact member A of the voters switch 314, bears the word Yes which word also appears on the plate 39 to designate the fixed contact member A. The printing surfaces of the printing members 473, 47 3,' 474 and 473, operatively associated with the electro-magnets G2, G3, G4 and G3, respectively, bear the words Present,7 Absent,7 Paired and No, vwhich words appear on the plate 39 to designate the fixed contacts A3, A3, A4 and A3, respectively.

The electromagnets of the several recording devices are similarly positioned with respect to -their supporting', frames thereby forming live horizontal rows of magnets, the magnets of each row being in a different horizontal row thanfithe magnets of an)7 other row. As shown the magnets in the lirst 0r lowermost row are electrically connected tothe fixed contact members of the voters switches corresponding to the/ word Yes, the magnets in the second row are connected to the fixed contact members of the switches corresponding to the word the frame 43 and having its rear or free end Present,A and the magnets of the third, fourth and fifth rows are connected respectively to the fixed contact members corresponding to the words Absent, Paired and No.

A printing member 51 is pivotally supported at its lower end upon a bracket 52 secured t0 the frame 43`-and is provided intermediate its ends with a y printing surface bearing the name of the voter to whom the desk 30A has been allotted. Adjacent its upper end the printingmember 51 is provided with oppositely'disposed, lateral projections 53, 53 extending across, and engaging the upper ends of the printing members 47', 472, 473, 474 and 47 5. A Spring 54 secured to the upper end of the printing memb/er 51 normally holds the same in its raised or inoperative position, and the projections 53, 53, ofl the printing member 51 will hold the upper ends of the printing members 47', 472, 473, 474, and 475 in their normally raised or inoperative positions, in which positions their lower ends will be depressed with respect to theA frame '43 to cause the several rods 45' and armatures 44 to assume their inoperative positions.

Mounted upon the desk 41 in alignment with the frame 43 of the recording device 42A is a set of five contact plates J, J2, J3, J* and J 5 electrically connected to one of the terminals of the electro-magnets G', G2, G3, G4 and G5, respectively in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter set forth. Each recording device upon the desk 43 is provided with a similar set of contact plates,

l.which sets are arranged in a row upon the desk43 in such a manner that the corresponding plates of each set will be in alignment with one another.

Supported upon the top of the frame 43 are a pair of brackets 55 having downwardly extending slits 56 formed therein which slits register with one another and with similar slits formed in the brackets 55 on the frames of the other recording devices supported upon the dsk 41. The slits 56 of the several recording devices serve to receive a strip of paper 57 or the like and to hold it in position to receive upon one of its surfaces impressions made by the printing surfaces of the actuated printing members of the recording devices. The other surface of the paper 57 rests upon a block 57 positioned between the brackets 55.

Rotatably supported upon the brackets 55 is a roller '5.8 carrying an inking ribbon 59 which is led over the printing surface of the paper strip 57 and has its free end connected to a feed roller 60 also rotatably supported by the-brackets 55. Secured to the-feed roller 60 is a ratchet wheel 61 adapted to be actuated by a pawl 62 fixed upon a recipxrocatable rod 63 mounted upon the top of extending beyond the frame 43 and lying in the path of a traveling actuating member, hereinafter described, adapted to move the rod 63 longitudinally in an outward direction to cause the pawl 62 to rotate the ratchet wheel 61 and feed roller 60 thereby feeding the inking ribbon 59 so that a fresh surface will be presented to the paper strip 57. The pawl 62 and rod 63 are returned to their normal positions after having been thus actuated by means of a spring 64. A spring pawl 65 engages the ratchet wheel 61 and prevents reverse rotation thereof.

From the above description it will be understood that upon the energization of any one vof the electro-magnets of any one of the recording devices in the manner hereinafter described, as for example the electromagnet G2 of the recording device 42A, its armature 44 will be attracted and drawn inwardly thereby causing an outward movement 0f the rod 45. As the rod 45 is thus moved the block 46 thereon, which engages the projection 49 at the lower end ofthe printing member 472, will cause the same to rotate about its pivoted point of. support, and, as a result of this movement of the printingr member 472 its upper end will be moved to carry the printingfsurface bearing the word Present into engagement with the inking ribbon 59 thereby impressing the word Present upon the strip of paper 57. As one of the projections 53 of the printing member v51 is engaged by the printing member 472 the printing member 51 will also be moved intoA its printing position and the name of the voter appearing upon the printing surface of the printing member 51K will also be impressed upon the paper strip 57. When the electro-magnet is deenergized the printing members 472 and 51, and the rod 45 and armature 44 are returned to their normal or inoperative positions by the spring 54. In a similar manner the energization of any one of the other electro-magnets of the recording device will cause its associated printing member to move into its printing position and in each instance, the thus actuated printing member will cause 'the printits printing surface, to move into printing position.

Supported upon `standards 66 secured to .the desk 41 in rear of the recording devices `U2, U4, U2 and '72. The conductor U is positioned opposite the first or lowermost ing member bearing the voters name upon vrow of the electro-magnets of the recording devices, and the conductors U2., U5, U4 and U5 positionedrespectively opposite the seco-nd, third, fourth andifth rows of electromagnets. The conductor 72 1s ositioned between the conductors U2 and 5.

Secured to the rear face of the carriage 69 is a vertically disposed conducting plate 73 (Fig. 4) having forwardly extending conductor rods 74 electrically connected 'to its lower end. Supported upon the rods 74 and electrically connected therewith are live con tact members 0', 02, O5, O4 and @5 so positionedv that, as the carriage 69 is moved as hereinafter described, they will come into contact with the contact plates J, J2, J5, J4 and J5 which are electrically connected to the electro-magnets of the recording device 42A. As the movement of thecarriage is continued the contact members 0', 02, O5, O4 and O5 will successively come into contact withv the'corresponding contact plates associated with the several recording `de vices. A contact member 75 connected. to the plate 73 slidingly engages the conductor 7 2.

The carriage 69 is provided upon its front face with' five normally open circuit closers P R, P2 R2, P5 R3, members P, P2, P5, P4 and P5 of the circuit closers are xed and are electrically connected to the contact-plate 73. The members R,R2, R5, R4' and R5 of the circuit closers are movable into and out of contact with their co-acting Xed members P', P2,

P5, P4 and P5 and are electrically connected by conductors S, S2, S5, S4 and S5 to contacts T, T2, T5, T4 and T5 secured to the rear face of the carriage 69 and slidingly engaging the conductorsiU U2, U5, U4 and U5. f The. circuit closers P R, P2 R2, P5 R5, P4 R4 and P5 R5 are so positioned upon the carriage 69 that as the carriage is moved they will successively travel past the electromagnets of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth rows, respectively. Each of the .movable members R', R2, R5, R4 and .R5 of the circuit closers is provided with inclined portions 76, 76 so shaped and proportioned that they will not be engaged by the free ends of the rods 45' carried by the armatures 44 of the electro-magnets when the rodspare in their inner or normal positions.

If, however, any one of the electro-magnets is energized the rod 45 associated therewith will be moved outwardly, as hereinbefore described, and its free end will then lie in the path of one or the other of the inclined portions 76, 76 of the movable member of its associated circuit closer depending upon the direction of movement of the carriage 69. If thecarriage 69 is now moved the free end ofthe rod 45 of the energized electro-magnet will engagel one ofthe P4 R4 and P`5 R5. The.

the circuit closer therebyfor'cing it into engagenient with its co-acting fixed member to close a circuit for the purpose hereinafter described.

The carriage 69 is also'provided upon its front surface with a double-faced cam 77 adapted, as the carriage moves in either directionfpast the recording devices, to engage successively the free ends of Vthe reciprocatable' rods 63 of the inking ribbon feeding mechanism thus actuating the. rods 68 to cause the pawls 64 tol rotate the .feed rollers as above described.

Secured to the carriage 69 and extending downwardly through a slot 78 formed in the lower rail 68 is an arm 79 carrying a nut 8O engaging an endless screw 81. A bevel gear 82 secured to the endless screw 81 meshes with a bevel gear 83 secured to ashaft 84 driven by an electric motor 85 the operation of which is controlled by a reversing switch 86 mounted upon the desk 41 whereby the carriage 69 maybe caused to tra-vel in either direction past the recording devices.

Supported upon the desk 41 are five counters 87', 872, 875, 874 and 875'of any approved type, as, for example, the well known Veeder counter, having their operating arms 88 connected to the armatures 89 of electro-magnets W4, W2, W5, vW4 'and W5 the electric circuits of which include the conductors U U2, U5, U4 and U5 and the normally open circuit closers P R', P2 R2, P5 R5, P4 R4 and P5 R5, respectively. Upon closing any one of the circuit closers the electro-magnet in circuit therewith will be energized whereupon its arma-ture will be attracted thus actuating the associated counter, the arm 88 of which is returned to its normal position by a spring 90 when the magnet is deenergized.,

4Plates 91', 912, 915, 914 and 915 positioned upon the desk 41 adjacent the counters` 87 872, 875, 874 and 875 bear ther words Yes, Present, Absent, Paired, No,-cor responding to the designations of the fixed contact members of the voters switches and to the words formed on the printing surfaces of the printing members of the recor-ding devices. In operation each counter will register'cthe number of voters switches having the movable member in engagement with the fixed contact member'thereof the designation of which corresponds to the designation of such counter.

n An additional eleetro-magnetically opera-ted counter 91lsimilar in all respects lto the electro-magnetically operated counters hereinbefore describedA has its electromagnet 92 so connected that the counter`91 will register a number corresponding to the4v sum of the numbers registered upon the and 875. Adjacent a plate bearing the word Located at any convenient point within the room so that it may be observed by the voters is. a. roster board 9-i provided with a plurality of' removable panels 95 arranged in a vertical column and bearing the names vot the voters. Supported upon the board 94 opposite the panels 95 are a plurality otl groups of visual signals, there being one group of signals for each panel. The group of signals opposite the panel 95 bearing the name of the voter occupying the desk 30A will be, described, it being understood that the other groups of signals are similar thereto. The group of signals comprises five incandescent electric lamps C C2, C3, C4, C" mounted in any suitable manner upon the board 94 and registering with openings formed in the face thereof within which openings differently colored jewels 96 are positioned. As shown the lamp C registers with a white jewel, the lamp C2 registers with an orange jewel. the lamp C3 registers with a blue jewel, the lamp C4 registers with aV green jewel., and the lamp C registers with a red jewel. The. lamps C. C2, C3, C4 and C5 are electrically connected to the fixed contact members A', A2, A3, A4 and A5, respectively, of the voters switch 31A and are similarly designated by the words Yes, Present, Absent, Paired and No The electric circuits of the lamps of the several groups are controlled by a suitable switch 97 of any -desired type positioned upon the desk 41.

Fig. 13 is a diagram showing the various operating circuits and sufficient of 'the mechanism in order to trace the circuits with respect thereto. For purposes of clearness the circuits and mechanisms for but two voters are shown, it being of course understood that the apparatus is capable of indefinite extension by mere duplication. In said figure 98, 99 indicate two electric batteries having three terminals 100, 101 and 102, the terminal 101 being common to both of the batteries. From itheterminal 100 ar conductor 103 leadsto a conductor 104A which is connected to the movable cont-act member A of' the votersiswitch 31A. rlhe fixed contacts Af, A2` A3, A4 and-A5 of the switch 31A arev connected by conductors B', B?, B, B4 and B5 vwith one lset of the terminalsco the lamps C', C2, C3, C4 and C5.. The other set of the lamp terminals are (onnectcd by Conductors D, DD, D4 and D5 to a conductor E leading to oneof the contacts of Ithe switch 97, the other contact of which is connected tothe other terminal 101 of thebattery 98 by a conductor 105. Conductors F', F2, F3, F4, F5 are connected thev conductors B', B2, B3. B4 and. B5 andto one set of the terminals of the electromagnets G, G2, G7, G4 and G5 of the recording ,device 424%, `The other setof terminals of' the electro-magnets are connected by convductors H, H2, H?, H4 and H5 to the contact plates J', J2, J3, J4, J5.

In a similar manner the movable contact member a ofI the voters switch 31n is connected by a conductor 104 with the conductor 103 and the fixed contacts a', o2, a, (L4 and o of this switch are connected by conductors L', b2, L, b and bito the lamps c', c2, c3, lc4 and 05, which are connected by conductors rl, (Z2, d, d and di to a conductor c leading to the switch 97. The electromagnets g', g2, g, g4 and g5 of the recording device 42a are connected by conductors f, f2, f3, f4 and to conductors b', b2, 3, b4 and b", and by conductors-h h2, h3, h4, if to the contact plates j, jz, j, j4 and The counter actuating electro-magnets 1V 72, iVs, T4 and 75 are connected by conductors V, V2, V3, V4 and V5 to the conductors U, U2, U3, U4 and and by conductors X, X2, X3, X4 and X5 to aconductor 106 leading to one terminal of the electro-mag'- net 92 of the totaling counter. The other terminal of the electro-magnet 92 is connected to the terminal 102 of the battery 99 by a conductor 107. From the other terminal 101 of the battery 99 a conductor 108 leads to the conductor 72. The reversing switch 8G of the motor 85 is connected to the terminals 101, 102 of the battery 99 by conductors 109, 110.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows I Assume, for example, that a vote is to be taken and that Lincoln, the voter occupying desk 30A, desires to vote Yes and that Vasliington, the voter occupying desk 30a, desires to vote No. After the presiding officers announces the taking of a vote upon any question, Lincoln having inserted` his key 40 in the lock 33 of his switch 31A, moves the arm 35 of his switch to cause the movable contact A to engage the fixed contact A designated by the word Yes thereby preparing a path for the current through the Yes lamp C and the Yes electromagnetG of the two signal indicating de` vices which are electrically connected to his switch 31A. In a similar manner Washington moves thev arm 35 of his switch 31a to cause the movable contact member a to engage the fixed contact member af designated the 'word No thereby preparing a path for the current through the No lamp c? and 'the No velec'tromagnet g5 of@ the twosignal indicating devices connected to his switch 31.

Assuming that thev result of theL vote to be indicated, but` not recorded, the recording 'officer closes the switch 97 on his desk 41 to complete the paths for the current rfrom the battery 98 through [.the lamps C and of. 'The path` for the current through the lamp C is as follows: from terminal 100 of battery 98, conductor 103, conductor 104A, movable Contact member ixed\ contact A', conductor B', lamp C', conductor D', conductor E, switch 97, conductor 105, to the other terminal 101 of the battery 98. The path for the current through the lamp c5 is as follows: from terminal 100 of the battery 98, conductor 103,

lconductor 1045, movable contact member a,

fixed contact member a5, conductor b5, lamp c5, conductor d5, conductor e, switch 97, conductor 105, to the other terminal 101 of battery 98. The lamps C and c5 will thus be illuminated simultaneously and, as a result,

a white light, indicating Yes, will appear on the roster board 94 opposite Lincolns name, and a red light, indicating No, will appear after Washingtons name.

lf it is desired that the result of the vote be recorded and counted the recording officer closes the motor switch 86 on his desk` oiicer moves the switch 86 into proper operative position to cause the motor 85 and its associated driving mechanism to move the carriage 69 from right to left. As the carriage 69 thus moves, the contact vmembers O', O2, O5, O4 and O5 engage the Contact plates. J', J2, J5, J4 and J5 of the recording device 42A whereupon current will flowV through the following circuit: battery 98,

terminal 100, conductor 103, conductor 104A,

movable contact member A, fixed contact member A', conductor B', conductor F', electro-magnet G', conductor H', contact plate J', contact member O', plate 7 3, sliding contact 75, conductor 72, conductor 108 to the other terminal 101 of the battery 98. The energization of the electro-magnet G' causes its armature `44 tobe moved inwardly and the rod 45 carried thereby to be moved out- 4wardly. This outward movement of the rod 45 serves to move the printing member 47 bearing the word Yes on its printing surface into itsrnting position and as the printing mem er 47' thus moves it carries vwith it the printing member 51` bearing the name Lincoln on its printing surface. The words Yes and Lincoln will thereshown in Fig. 8,

As the carriage 69 continues its movement fore be printed upon the paper strip 57 as the inclined portion 76 of the movable mem-l ber R' ofthe circuit closer P' R will be en-- gaged by the free end of the outwardly moved rod 45 of the electro-magnet Gr'v and forced into contact with its co-acting fixed member P' thereby closing the following circuit: battery 99, terminal 101, conductor 108, conductor 72, sliding contact 75, plate 73, fixed member P', movable member R', conductor S', sliding contact T', conductor U', conductor V', electro-magnet W', conductor X', conductor 106, electro-magnet 92, conductor 107, to the other terminal 102 of the battery 99. The energization of the electro-magnet W' effects the actuation of the Yes counter 87' and the energization of the electro-magnet 92 effects the actuation of the Total7 counter 91 whereupon each counter will register once. Upon further movement of the carriage 69 the'movable member R' of the circuit closer P' R' will be moved out of engagement with its coacting fixed member P', whereupon the movable memberR' will return to its normal position thereby breaking the circuit ot the counter electro-magnets W' and 92, and the contact member Ul.' will be'moved out o'l' engagement with the-contact plate J', thereby breaking the circuit of the electro-magnet G', whereupon the spring 54 will return the printing members 47' and 51, and the rod 45 and armature 44 to their normal positions. The cam 77 will be moved into and then out of engagement with the free end of the rod 63 carrying the ribbon feeding pawl 62 Ato feed the ribbon as above set forth.A

As the carriage continues its movement the contact members 0', O2, O3, O4 and O5 will engage the contact plates j", y'2, j, j* and I7'5, o-E the recording device 42 and current will flow through the following circuit: battery 98, terminal 100, conductor 103, conductor 104, movable contact member a5, conductor b5, conductor f5, electro-magnet g5, vconductor 7t5, contact plate y'5, contact member O5, plate 73, sliding contact 75, conductor 72, conductor 108, to the other terminal 101 of the battery 98. The electro-magnet .g5 will thereupon be energized and the printing members bearing the words No and VVashington7 will be moved into printing position in a manner similar to that above described with respect to the operation of the recording device 42A. The movable member R5 of the circuit closer P5 R5 will'be moved into engagement with its co-acting fixed member, as above described, with respect tothe'circuit closer .P R', and current will How from the battery' 99, to terminal 101, conductor 108, conductor 72, sliding contact 75, plate 73, fixed member P5, movable member R5, conductor S5, contact T5. conductor U5, conductor V5, electro-magnet VV5.,cond11ctor X5, conductor 106, electro-magnet 92, conductor 107, tothe other terminal 102 of the battery 99. The-energization of the electromagnet W5 effects the actuation of the No counter 875 and the energization of the electro-magnet 92 e'ects the energization of the Total counter 91 whereupon each counter.

. spect to the recording device 42A.

lhe recording oicer then opens the motor switch 86 thereby arresting the movement of the carriage. Upon removing the'paper strip 57 from its position within the slits .colns name.

56 of the brackets 55 the recorded Vote will read No Washington and Yes Lincoln, as shown in Fig. 8. The Yes counter 87 having been actuated but once will show the numeral l through its sight opening, as will also the No counter 875. As the Total counter 92 was actuated simultaneously with both the Yes counter 87 and the No counter 875 the numeral 2 will appear through its sight opening, thus showing that both of the voters have voted.

If either of the voters, for example Lincoln, had been absent the arm of his switch 31A would have been in its locked position with the movable contact A engaging the fixed contact member A3 designated by the word Absent Upon the closing of the switch 97 the Absent lamp C3 would therefore be illuminated and a blue light would appear on the roster board 94 opposite Lin- If'the vote were recorded the electro-magnet G3 of Lincolns recording dewhatl I c vice 42A would be energized and the printing members bearing the words Absent and Lincoln would be actuated to print these words upon the paper strip 57, and the Absent counter 873 and the Totalfcounter 92 would each be actuated once in the man ner hereinbefore described. i

If a lroll call is to be takenthe movablel contact members of the voters switches will be in engagement with one or vthe other of the fixed contact members designated by the words Here and Absent, and the result is then. indicated or recorded by the signal indicating., devices as above described.' i

While the invention has been described as lbeing usedin connection with Va voting sys-IV tem it isv of course to be understood that it is notto be limited to such use as itis adapted for use in connection with any other system in which signals or messages transmitted from a plurality ofindividualsending stations are `to be received and indicated in any suitable manner at a central or receiving station. n t Havin ythus described mysaid invention lqim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

scribed, in combination, a pluralityfof sigV nal indicating means. electric circuits there-'- for, means operable by'a voter'for preparing pathsfor the currentl through said cirof signal indicating means of different character, electric circuits 'the-refor, means associated with each of said sets and controlled by the voters for severally preparing paths for the current through the circuits of said sets, means lcontrolled by a recording oiicer for simultaneously completing the paths for the current through the circuitszof signal indicating means of onecharacter in said sets, and means con trolled by the recording officer for successivelycompleting the paths for the currentl through the circuits of signal indicating means of another character in said sets. said several path-completing means operating independently of one another, substan tially as specified.

'3. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of groups of signal ,indicating means of different character for each voter, the signal indicating means of said groupsv being arranged in sets, `the signal indicating means of each of said sets being indicative of a response by the voter, electric circuits for said signal indicating means, means operable by each voter to prepare paths for the current through the circuits of any set of ,signal indicating means of his group, and

means operable by a recording oi'cer for severally and independently completing the paths for the current through the circuits of the signal indicating means of different character of said selected sets, substantially as specified.

4. In an apparatus ofthe character described, in combination, a plurality m substantially as' specified.` y n H 5. In an apparatus ofthe character vdethe' `electro-magnet 'associated therewith,` y

scribed, in combinatioma plurality of elec-A 1,'n an apparatus of the character de` tro-magnets, electric circuits therefor, aplu` v printing members being provided with printing surfaces of different characteristics, a printing member adapted -to be moved into printing position by the movement of any one of said lurality of print ing members and adaptedp to print the name of a voter, means to receive impressions made bythe 'actuated printing members, and means for closing any one of said circuits to energize the electro-magnet associated thereith, substantially as specified.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, signal indicating means, means to operate the same, a counter, l5 an electro-magnet to actuate said counter, and a normally open electric circuit including said electro-magnet, said signal indicating means serving to close said electric circuit 'whereby said counter Will be actuated. substantially as specied.

7. In an apparatus of the character de scribed, in combination, signal indicating means, means to operate the same, a counter, a traveling member to control the actuation thereof, said signal-indicating means comprising a member movable upon the operation 'thereof into the path of saidtraveling member to operate the same, and means a normally open electric circuit includingr said electro-magnet, a movable circuit closer'4 for said circuit, said signal indicating means comprising a member movablel upon circuit closer to close'the same, and means for moving said circuit closer through' its path whereby said counter Will be actuated, j substantially as specified.

9. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality' of signal indicating means, means to operate the same, a counter, an electro-magnet to 'actuate-said y counter, a normally open electric circuit inc luding said electro-magnet, a movable circuit closer for said circuit, each of said signal indicating means comprisinga member movable upon the operation thereof into .thepath of said circuit closer to close the same, and means for moving said circuit closer through its path vvhereb said counter i will be actuated a number o times corresponding to'the number of signal indicating means that have been operated, substan`- tially as specified. l

' 10. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, a plurality of signal indicating means, means to operate any one of the same, a plurality of counters,

traveling members to control the actuation f for moving said traveling member through an electro-magnet to actuate said' counter,v

the operation thereof into the path of said' Substantially aS Specified.

of said counters, said signal indicating means comprising members movable upon operation thereof into the paths of said traveling members to operate the same, and means for moving said traveling members through their paths whereby the operating member of the operated signal indicating means Will cause one of said traveling members to actuate its associated counter, subcontrol the operation thereof, -an electric V circuit for said last ,mentioned electro-mag net, and means controlled by said first-men` tioned means foi` closing said second-mentioned circuit Wherebysaid counter will be actuated, substantially as specified. l

l2. In an apparatus of the character described, in combination, an electro-magnet, an electric circuit therefor, signal indicating means operatively associated with said electro-magnet, means actuated upon the energization of said electro-magnet to operate said signal indicating means, means for completing a path for the current through said circuit, a counter, an electro-magnet to control the operation thereof, an electric circuit 100 for said last-mentioned electro-magnet comprising a normally open circuit closer adapted to be closed by said first-mentioned means whereby said counter Will be actuated,

13.r In an apparatus of the character de- 'l scribed, in combination, an electro-magnet,

an electric circuit therefor, means for completing a path for the current through said circuit, signal indicating means operatively associated With said electro-magnet, a counter, an electro-magnet vto control the operation thereof, an electric circuit for said second-mentioned electro-magnet comprising a traveling circuit closer, means actuated upon the energization of said first-mentioned electro-magnet to operate said signal indieating means and movable into the path of said circuit closer, and means for moving said circuit closer through its path whereby 12() said circuit closerl will be closed by said actuated means to cause the counter to be operated, substantially as s ecified.

' 14:.` In an apparatus of t e character de- Iscribed, in.combination, an electromagnet, 125

an electric circuit therefor comprising a; traveling circuit-closer, signal, indicating means operatively associated with said elec' tro-magnetVacounter, an electro-magnet to control'the operation thereof, an electricA 130 circuit for said second mentioned electromagnet comprising a traveling circuit closer,

second-named circuit closer to be closed by said actuated means whereby said counter will be operated, substantially as specified.

Signed at the city of Lansing; Ingham 15 County, in the State of Michigan, this tenth day of April, One thousand nine hundred and seventeen.

HARRY J. SPROAT. Witnesses:

Gmo. W. OHIGHESTER, MYRL H. AMMON. 

